Sufi Devotion in Northern India

In Northern India in Delhi and Ajmer, there are two important shrines (Dargah's) of Sufi saints that are central devotional places for Sufism, where people from all around India and neighbouring countries go to visit. Within the Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi there is also the Amir Khusrow shrine - a disciple of Nizamuddin, a poet, musician and Sufi mystic that is known and respected for many as the father of Qawwali.

Qawwali is Sufi devotional music, performances are usually characterised by an intimate communication between musicians and audiences. Through their music, poetry and song the musician’s purpose is to arouse listeners to a state of mystical ecstasy, becoming a conduit between this reality and the divine. This practice is known as 'Sama / Sema' or listening, and is also a well known practice of the Mevlevi order of Sufi's in Turkey where they practice whirling - See here